WestcoastPete wrote:I too feel the need to voice opposition to this project, as I have in the past. I feel that it's spiteful and vindictive, leading to more devisiveness and increasing the "us against them" mentality. To me it seems like a base action, looking at the problem too simply. I don't think it's a good way to promote cycling to others, and I feel that it will do the opposite of its goals of getting motorists to think "hey, there's a cyclist; I must be courteous because they're reducing congestion. Go cyclist!".

Just my opinion though...

Coming in late here...

I think the meaning/intent behind the day, and the actual interpretation the general public will take from it are far divorced from one another. I see it turning into a 'la di da look at the cyclists proving their point, thereby clogging up our roads even more than they usually do'. You've got to remember, the attitude of 'bikes are a problem' will remain even after this action.

There are problems of congestion, safety, and attitudes on each side. I can't solve it, but maybe this is at least an attempt, however misguided some may think it is. It's getting people talking.

Then rather than making it a drive to work day, make it a drive to work month - with no announcement, just make it happen. The drivers might notice that there are not many cyclists on the road, but traffic is even worse than it was. if you have a car and can legally and safely drive it (there, I think I've appeased the BNA pedants) - then just go ahead and do it.

familyguy wrote: I can't solve it, but maybe this is at least an attempt, however misguided some may think it is. It's getting people talking.

People are always going to be anti-cycling until they get on a bike themselves, so there is nothing lost from this measure. Too often, bike-riders are the soft-touch, divided amongst each other. And our enemies see that - so they stoke the division between us. They set the touring and occasional cyclists against the commuter and sporting/racing cyclists, and of course, we all play along happily. All our ships must sail in the same direction.

Last edited by g-boaf on Sat Mar 23, 2013 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

g-boaf wrote:People are always going to be anti-cycling until they get on a bike themselves

^^ THIS

Why I argue so strongly that we need to remove the MHL.

g-boaf wrote:And our enemies see that - so they stoke the division between us. They set the touring and occasional cyclists against the commuter and sporting/racing cyclists, and of course, we all play along happily. All our ships must sail in the same direction.

I really do not think your Average Joe Motorist is even aware of such fine differences

1986 Melbourne (roughly) rules against parking motorcycles on the footpath were mooted - motorcyclists organised a rally which saw them assembling in Melbourne CBD and parking 1 bike to car parking spots for the time allowed. Such a graphic demonstration of the potential waste of parking space that we still have footpath parking in Melbourne to this day.

2009 rules against motorcycle lane filtering (moving between stationary traffic prisoners) were mooted - motorcyclists rode the eastern freeway in peak hour not filtering to demonstrate the difference it would make. Vic govt backed away from the legislation quickly after the traffic jam cleared.

The only problem with D2WD from my thought is that it would be difficult for the mug behind the wheel to realise that the extra traffic was coming from no bikes unless it was in their faces somehow. In the above cases everybody could recognize the action was by motorcyclists, D2WD is just more cars which probably won't be recognised as action by the average nail painting, phone using, book reading, red light running, speeding, bullying, frustrated but cant think of an alternative, lazy tax object motorist.

Simple way to differentiate. Wear your helmut, drive to work with the bike racked on, or simply get creative with a sign on the car. There isn't any need to pay SCA for the privilege of being being inconvenienced while making your point. It's bad enough that that you'll have to pay for fuel.

Rain predicted for tomorrow morning in Canberra. It will be a drive to work day by default.

Only the hard core cyclists will be riding and they will ride anyway. As for me on days like this I drive to a free carpark 1.3km from where I work and have a commuter bike with racks and panniers on the car. Since I do the school and childcare drop-off on the way to work all the paid spots nearest to work are always full on even a regular day.

For the idea to work properly all the non-regular car commuters need to get there early and take up all the best parking spots.

There seemed to be less commuters along Coronation Drive today, but it could just be me.New fb page starting up this week iin preparation for next year. We'll make sure it doesn't interfere with anything else in 2014 and there will be much wider promotion.

Who is online

About the Australian Cycling Forums

The largest cycling discussion forum in Australia for all things bike; from new riders to seasoned bike nuts, the Australian Cycling Forums are a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.